Egg-marking machine



Dec. 21,1926. 1,611,679

- W. H. REES EGG MARKING MACHINE o van/t0 WILZZi/a JLRe A toiney.

Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. BEES, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

EGG-MARKING MACHINE.

Application filed October 13, 1925.

In this specification. and the accompanying drawing, I shall describe and show a preferred form of y invention, and specifically mention certain of its more important objects. I do not limit myself to the forms disclosed. since various changes and adaptations may be made therein without departing from the essence of my invention as hereinafter claimed; andobjects and advantages, other than those specifically mentioned, are included within its scope.

My invention relates to means for placing an identification mark upon eggs in a crate, and among its principal objects are; first. to

' supply a device adapted for marking the eggs very quickly and cheaply; second; to provide means for avoiding danger of breaking the eggs during the marking process; and, third. to accomplish the above in a very simple and relatively inexpensive machine.

My objects are attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine with certain parts shown broken and shown in section for greater convenience of illustration;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the above with the printing mechanism removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation in section of the printing roller and type; and

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the severalviews.

The embodiment of my invention selected for illustration comprises a table-like base 5, at each end of which is journalled a shaft 6 carrying a sprocket 7 at each side of the table. The respective pairs of sprockets are connected by chains 8, and the two chains are cross'spanned at regular intervals by cleats 9 in such a way as not to interfere with the engagement of the chains by the sprockets.

At one end of the table is an extension shelf 10 slightly spaced from the table end as shown at 11 so that the cleats can pass freely downward through this spacing. A. suitable bracket 12 may be used for supporting this shelf.

Above the upper surface of the table is a cross shaft 13 supporting a rotatable print- Serial No. 62.243.

ing roller 14:. The latter has its periphery deeply indented as shown at 15, and these indentations are spanned by an elastic band 16 upon which the type bosses 17 are mounted. An inking roller 18 and distributing rollers 19 are providedfor inking the type in any convenient manner as from the reservoir 20.

The spacing of cleats 9 is such as to exactly accommodate a standard egg crate 21 between them, and the distance between successive type bosses on the printing roller is the same as between the centers of the egg cells in the crates. Therefore when eggs 22 are placed in the crates and the latter are caused to traverse the table, the upper ends of the eggs may have an imprint placed thereon by the type. Irregularities in the size of the eggs is provided for by the elas- I ticity of band 16 spanning the indentations of the printing roller, and is further provided for in a manner that will be explained below.

In order to insure theproper centering of v theeggs in their cells, and to keep them upright on end, I make use of a special. circularly ridged sheet 23 of papier mach or similar material. The circular ridges of these sheets are spaced to be central with the egg cells of the crates as shown at 24. These sheets are exactly the same size as the over all dimensions of the egg crates and may be used as temporary bottoms for the latter.

For my type I employ specially shaped bosses of sponge rubber having a circular base 25 cemented to band 16. The necks of these bosses preferably are in form of an inverted cone and rubber type 26 are cemented on the outer faces of the bosses. It will be evident that this construction provides 1 great flexibility, since the sponge rubber may begreatly distorted by slight pressure and without damage.

The crate traversing mechanism is driven in any convenient manner as by the sprocket 27 on one-of the shafts 6. The traversing speed of the crates must be the same as the peripheral speed of the type on roller 14 and the latter therefore must be positively driven in the proper manner. A convenient way for doing this is to drive a sprocket-(not shown) on roller shaft 13 by a chain 28 that also engages a sprocket '29 on the other shaft 6, and to make use of sprockets for this purpose that have pitch diameters adapted for making the peripheral speed of the type the same as the traversing speed of the egg crates.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim:

1. A .device of the character described comprising; means for causing independent cellular egg crates to traverse a plane; a transverse printing roller above the crates having peripheral type thereon spaced the same as the distance between the centers of the crate cells; and means for rotating the roller so that the peripheral speed of the type will be the same as the traversing speed of the crates.

2. A device of the character described comprising; a conveyor mechanism adapted for causing cellular egg crates to traverse a-plane; a transverse printing roller above the crates having yieldable peripheral type thereon spaced the same as the distance between the centers of the crate cells; means for centering eggs in the cells on end; and means for rotating the roller so that the peripheral speed of the type will be the same as the traversing speed of the crates.

3. A device of the character described comprising; a conveyor mechanism adapted for causing cellular egg crates to traverse a plane; a transverse peripherally indented printing roller abovethe crates; a resilient peripheral vband on said roller with type thereon opposite the indentations; means for centering eggs in the cells on end; and means for rotatin the roller so that the peripheral speed of the type will be the same as the traversing speed of the crates; the spacing between centers of type being the same as the spacing between centers of the crate cells.

4:. A device of the character described comprising; a conveyor mechanism adapted for causing cellular egg crates to traverse a plane; a transverse peripherally indented. printing roller above'the crates; a resilient peripheral band on said roller with soft rubber type thereon opposite the identations; a sheet adapted for bottoming said crates and for centering eggs on end in the cells thereof; and means for rotating said roller so that the peripheral speed of the type will be the same as the traversing speed. of the crates; the spacing between the centers of type being the same as the spacing between the centers of the crate cells.

5. A device of the character described comprising; a conveyor mechanism adapted for causing cellular egg crates to traverse a plane; a transverse peripherally indented printing roller above the -crates; a resilient peripheral band on said roller with soft rubber type bosses thereon opposite the indentations; sheets of yieldable material adapted for bottoming said crates and having a plurality of circular ridges thereon for centering eggs on end in the cells of the crates; and means for rotating said roller so that the peripheral speed of the type will be the same as the traversing speed of the crates; the spacing between the centers of the type being the-same as the spacing between the centers of the crate cells; and the type bosses being in the form of inverted truncated cones for increasing their flexibilit y WILLIAM REES. 

